On his internment during WWII, P. G. Wodehouse commented: 

> The chief drawback is that it means your being away from home a good deal.

Striking. Because, I think, he's slightly stretching the use of the phrase. He's not away *often*. He's away *for a long time*.

But could the witticism strictly be true? Could you be away from home "a good deal" in one stretch? Or does it necessarily indicate a habit?